Friday, November 1, 2024
黑料视频HSC Dr. Walters Mission Trip (Pictured first row - bottom right)
They came by cars, trucks and busses, nearly 370 volunteers ready to repair homes for families in Little Rock, Arkansas. , regents professor for population and community health at The at Fort Worth鈥檚 , was one of the group leaders on this mission organized by Southlake鈥檚 White鈥檚 Chapel Methodist Church.
Working with faith-based and charitable organizations in our local communities and beyond is an important part of the College of Public Health鈥檚 mission. The college鈥檚 strategic plan 鈥� 鈥� is rooted in collaboration, impact and the goal of creating healthier communities. CPH鈥檚 research, professional services and volunteerism are responsive and relevant to the needs of communities.
So when the call came from that an Arkansas-based charity had more requests for community assistance than it
could handle alone, volunteers were recruited for a week-long summer trip 鈥� and 250
local high school students, along with adults with a construction background, and
parents who wanted to help in other ways, were ready to pack their bags and go.
Some leaders arrived early to assess the homes, devise a plan for repairs, and develop a materials list and order of operations, so they would be ready to teach students when the busses pulled up. For the students 鈥� including Walters鈥� 15-year-old-son Will 鈥� it was both a learning and bonding experience. The groups did the work in hot, sweaty conditions, building wheelchair ramps, installing siding on houses, repairing and painting fencing, and even demolishing and rebuilding decks that had been unusable before. Some groups rebuilt steps, and others installed roofing shingles. When there was extra time, the kids helped with lawn work and other projects. Overall, 21 groups worked on 20 different sites.
Dr. Walters鈥� team replaced a fence for Marie, a Little Rock homeowner who applied for home repair assistance through her church. The team also built a porch handrail, so Marie鈥檚 75-year-old mother and 90-year-old grandmother would have an easier way to get up the steps. Marie lives alone and finds it hard to get these types of repairs done on her own.
鈥淚t was so good to see these volunteers put themselves in someone else鈥檚 shoes and
to experience communities coming together like this,鈥� she said.
, CPH dean, noted that one way HSC is committed through its is by helping to create healthier surroundings for individuals and families at work and at home. The CPH follows the plan and the , aimed at achieving a more equitable, resilient and sustainable world.
鈥淪table, safe and supportive housing is a crucial determinant of health in our society. Through partnerships with non-profit organizations and agencies, our College of Public Health faculty, staff and student volunteers help improve the health and well-being of local and regional communities,鈥� he said.
鈥淭his service mission is a great example of how CPH members extend their impact beyond academic work at HSC, volunteering their time as engaged citizens and neighbors to address community needs.鈥�
From - Community by Sally Crocker